Friday, May 13, 2005

At a hearing today, Judge Wanda K. Heard sentenced Dwayne Gibson, 20, of the 3900 block of Grantley Avenue, to life in prison. A Baltimore City jury convicted Gibson February 11, 2005 of first-degree murder and two weapons counts. Judge Heard also sentenced Gibson to concurrent three-year prison terms for each weapons count. On the evening of September 28, 2003, Wayne Rideout, 43, mistakenly stumbled in the backyard of 3927 Grantley Road, where Gibson was living. Gibson took a crow bar and beat Mr. Rideout in the head six times, and then dragged Mr. Rideout down a concrete stairwell, doused him in gasoline, and then lit him on fire.

The child sexual abuse trial of Darryll Purefoy of Randallstown, originally scheduled to begin today, has been postponed at the request of the defense. The new trial date is June 24. A Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Purefoy December 6, 2004 on more than 100 counts of sexual child abuse and related other counts. Court documents allege Purefoy had sexual contact with a minor female between the years of 1995 and 2000.

The sentencing hearing of Desmond Dickey, originally scheduled for today, has been postponed at the request of the defense. The new date is June 24. A Baltimore City jury convicted Dickey of second-degree murder March 8, 2005 for the August 12, 2001 murder of Anthony Carlest in the 400 block of North Pulaski Street.

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

The murder trial of Leighton Rose, 31, of Brooklyn, New York, is scheduled to begin at 9:30 tomorrow morning before Judge Joseph P. McCurdy. A Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Rose February 2 of last year for first-degree murder in connection with the January 1, 2004 shooting death of Romel Pittman, 30, in the 2400 block of East Eager Street. Leighton Rose is being held on a no-bail status at the Baltimore City Detention Center.

At a hearing today, Judge Joseph P. McCurdy sentenced Norman Hock, III, 18, of South Conkling Street, to five years in prison. Hock pled guilty March 15 to leaving the scene of a fatal automobile accident. On April 22, 2004 Hock was involved in a traffic accident in the 2200 block of Newkirk Street in which Joshua Naparstek, 15, was killed.

Joseph DiAngelo, 51, of Wells Avenue will be arraigned 9:30 tomorrow morning before Judge Lynn K. Stewart. The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted DiAngelo April 5 for first-degree assault, witness intimidation and conspiracy to commit first-degree assault. Court documents allege DiAngelo hired two individuals to conduct a home invasion/assault on a witness in a pending assault case. The hired individuals entered the home armed with table legs (?!) to assault the victim/witness. One of those individuals, William Morton, is facing assault and burglary charges.

Monday, May 9, 2005

The trial of Cedric Stancil, 28, of Poplar Street, was scheduled to begin at 9:30 this morning before Judge Paul A. Smith. On March 1, 2004, the Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Stancil for the July 9, 2003 shooting death of Edwin Boyd, 17, in the 2300 Block of E. Oliver Street. Stancil was also indicted for conspiracy to murder.

At a hearing this morning, Charles Carroll, a teacher arrested for raping a student and other sex offenses was given "no bail" status. Carroll's preliminary hearing is set for May 31 at North Avenue District Court in Room 1.

Also given "no bail" status was Ross Talp, accused of killing his mother. His preliminary hearing is set for June 2 at Wabash District Court in Room 6 at 8:30 a.m.

At a hearing today, Thomas Anthony White, 46, of North Washington Street, pled guilty to second-degree murder. Judge John Glynn sentenced White to 25 years in prison. Says the prosecutor's office:

On January 15, 2004 at approximately 9:30 p.m., Joann Betty Dunn, 51, of the 200 block of North Linwood Avenue, was found lying in a pool of blood on her kitchen floor with numerous cuts and stab wounds throughout her body and a large screwdriver sticking out of right side of her head. Several latent prints were recovered from the scene and upon comparative analysis, White's left thumbprint and right palm print were identified. White's DNA profile was also obtained from evidence samples recovered from the crime scene.

On January 21, 2004 at 9:30 AM, Thomas Anthony White was arrested at 3617 Pulaski Highway on the charge of first-degree murder. The defendant executed a written wavier of his rights and gave a tape-recorded confession of his involvement in the murder of Joann Betty Dunn. According to White, he was under the influence of narcotics when he went to the victim's home to ask for money. When the victim refused and drew a knife, he took the knife and stabbed her.

The murder trial of Alveate Jerome Wallace, 35, is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow before Judge John M. Glynn (that guy seems to get all the really depressing ones). The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Wallace March 3 of last year for the January 24, 2004 first-degree murder of Shella Christian, 42. He was also indicted for the attempted first-degree murder of Christian's six-year old son. The alleged incident occurred on Seagull Avenue in Cherry Hill.

The murder trial of Charles Norfolk, 42, is scheduled to begin at 9:30 tomorrow morning before Judge Joseph P. McCurdy. The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Norfolk August 9, 2004 for first-degree murder in connection with the stabbing death of 47-year old Vincent Fitzgibbons.

A 15-year-old in Brooklyn Park is charged with reckless endangerment after shooting his girlfriend in the face and lying about who did it.

And 15-year-old Christopher Gaines has turned himself in following the stabbing at the Coppin State gym.